Is there any conspiracy behind Maui wildfire?

As Maui grapples with one of the most devastating wildfires in recent U.S. history, it simultaneously faces a digital nightmare that has unfortunately become all too common in the wake of major news stories: the proliferation of social media-fueled conspiracy theories.

Fires have ravaged and destroyed parts of West Maui, severely affecting the historic community of Lahania. The death toll currently stands at a minimum of 102 people, and the fires could potentially cause a staggering $7 billion in economic impact.

Fringe online circles claim that instead, space lasers, arsonists, and government plots to restrict people's movement cause the fires. However, social media algorithms widely circulate and boost these theories, despite their fringe nature.

The fires caused the destruction in West Maui to a certain extent, attributing it in part to a combination of high winds from Hurricane Dora in the Pacific and drought in the region. The area has been prone to wildfires for years.

The Associated Press reported that platforms like Facebook and Instagram are sharing these images, and, in one instance, a man on Instagram shared the image claiming that it shows a laser beam coming out of the sky directly targeting the city. He then asserts falsely that a weaponized government weather modification program connects to the Maui wildfires.

Photos claiming to show space lasers causing destruction in Hawaii have gained millions of views on social media. People point to images of trees still standing after the fires as evidence that the fires were not natural.

"One user on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, wrote, 'Everything is burnt except for the trees, but don't point that out or you're a conspiracy theorist.'"

Energy Weapons Theory Debunked

The federal government orchestrated another debunked theory that directed energy weapons targeted the island, which is linked to the blue objects hoax.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) states that "high energy lasers and other high power electromagnetics" involve DEWs that "use concentrated electromagnetic energy to combat enemy forces and assets."

An April 2023 GAO report says the Defense Department has had trouble deploying these technologies outside of labs because of a lack of transition planning, despite spending $1 billion annually on developing these weapons to take down missile and drone threats.

State officials have said, "Various forms of extreme weather, like dry conditions, low humidity, and high winds, set Hawaii up for the extreme wildfires, but we are yet to determine their exact cause."

Chilean explosion, conspiracy theories spread

Another image in circulation within the space laser claims features the May explosion of a transformer in a Chilean city, as per the BBC. It includes another lens flare.

These theories have been propagated to suggest that the fires were intentionally ignited to displace indigenous residents from Maui. This, in turn, would supposedly pave the way for the government to transform the region into an AI-driven smart city.

The narrative centers on a scientific gathering held in Maui earlier in the year, touching lightly on the concept of "15-minute cities" that provide essential amenities within walking distance. It also mentions an upcoming summit in Honolulu focusing on governance in the digital era. Snopes and The AP debunked the images from SpaceX and the Ohio-controlled burn.

Conspiracy theories about the Maui wildfire lack credible evidence. Natural factors, such as weather conditions and human activity, primarily cause the fires. Misinformation often fuels conspiracy theories, which lack substantiated proof.

Governor plans to acquire fire-damaged land

Hawaii Governor Josh Green and his administration are planning to acquire fire-ravaged land in Lahaina, as announced by the governor on Monday. Governor Green, standing amidst fire debris, expressed intentions to convert the land into workforce housing, family spaces, or perpetual open areas.

Governor Green, speaking outside some of the debris from the fires, said, "I'm already thinking of ways for the state to acquire that land so that we can put it into workforce housing, put it back into families, or make it open spaces in perpetuity as a memorial."

“We want this to be something we remember after the pain passes as a magic place. Lahaina will rebuild. The tragedy right now is the loss of life. The buildings can be rebuilt over time, even the banyan tree may survive, but we don’t want this to become a clear space where then people from overseas just come and decide they’re gonna take it. The state will take it and preserve it first.”

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